3514 Crustacea. 



from the fact that during the whole of the above-named period he resided in a glass 

 tumbler, with about three quarters of an inch of sea-water. His appetite is most ac- 

 commodating — spiders, Scolopendrae, caterpillars, small insects and Mollusca, in short, 

 anything that moves, being acceptable; but more generally he shared in my luncheon, 

 whether the same were roast beef, boiled mutton, fowl, or chop. His action when hun- 

 gry is very significant; on my approaching the tumbler he comes to the same side, 

 looking up eagerly at me, and jumping up repeatedly in the water, apparently to at- 

 tract attention. Whatever is thrown in is seized with avidity, commonly by the mid- 

 dle, and thus sticking across the mouth is often let go and seized again three or four 

 times before it happens to be in a position to be swallowed: this is only when the sub- 

 stance is rigid ; a Scolopendra electrica, nearly an inch in length, which is more than 

 half his own dimensions, disappeared in a trice. If an insect is placed outside the 

 tumbler, it is amusing to see his vigorous struggles to penetrate the walls of his crys- 

 tal prison and get at it. When a mouthful proves rather too large, he shakes his head 

 violently and backs astern, as though that materially assisted the process. The co- 

 louring is very variable, he being at one time covered with dark blotches and mark- 

 ings, and at another almost immaculate. The dark colour is always assumed when 

 the water is changed, from which I imagined it was owing to a larger supply of oxy- 

 gen ; I think now, however, it may be from alarm, as disturbing the fish without re- 

 newing the water appears to deepen the colour. The mouth is invariably open, except 

 of course in the act of swallowing, differing in that respect from any fish that I have 

 observed (I can only speak of gold-fish, roach, dace, and other fresh-water species), 

 all of which close the mouth at each inspiration. The shanny is said to creep into 

 holes when left by the tide ; and this specimen, when placed on a table covered with 

 a cloth, does not fall sideways like many fish, but supported on the abdomen by the 

 large pectoral fins, it advances by lashing the tail from side to side, gaining perhaps 

 half an inch at a stroke ; from the peculiar structure and position of the ventral fins 

 any motion must be ahead. The eyes have great freedom of action, and move inde- 

 pendently. He is sufficiently tame to take food presented to him on the point of a 

 setting-needle, but usually retreats when the hand is brought near to the side of the 

 glass. Mr. Yarrell (if I remember rightly) states that this species seldom exceeds 4 

 inches in length ; as mine is but an inch and a half, I conclude it to be a young spe- 

 cimen : it has however grown little if at all while in my possession. — George Guy on ; 

 Ventnor, Isle of Wight, June 18, 1852. 



Note on Porcellana platycheles. — I find in Professor Bell's ' British Crustacea ' a 

 remark on the force with which Porcellana platycheles can use its claws, and its readi- 

 ness in parting with its limbs. Both these attributes were exemplified in a specimen 

 I captured here a few months ago (in fact on the same day that I met with the shanny 

 just spoken of), the force of whose nippers certainly surprized me, considering the size 

 of the creature. It also grasped the edge of the tin gentle -box-lid so firmly, that I 

 raised it thereby to drop it into the box, when, rather than let go its hold, it separated 

 from the limb at its base. I think this instance is somewhat remarkable, inasmuch as 

 the crab was merely detained by its own voluntary grasp, and parted with its limb in 

 preference to letting go its bold.— Geo. Guyon; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, Jun* 18, 1852. 



